Kessel traded to Pittsburgh

Toronto will pay 15% ($1.2 million) of Kessel’s salary over the remaining seven years of the term of his contract.

Here is the text of the Leafs’ media release:

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the team has acquired forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Nick Spaling, defenceman Scott Harrington, a first-round draft pick in 2016 and a third-round draft pick in 2016 from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forwards Phil Kessel and Tyler Biggs, defenceman Tim Erixon, and a second-round draft pick in 2016 (previously acquired by Toronto from Pittsburgh on February 25, 2015).

Kapanen, 18, was selected by Pittsburgh in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Kuopio, Finland registered 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 101 games over three seasons with Kalpa of the Finnish League before being transferred to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, where he scored one goal and added one assist in four regular season games and five points (three goals, two assists) in seven playoff games.

Spaling, 26, collected 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 82 regular season games and two points (one goal, one assists) in five playoff games with the Penguins last season. The Palmerston, Ontario native previously spent five seasons with the Nashville Predators, collecting 84 points (40 goals and 44 assists) in 297 games. Spaling was originally selected by Nashville in the second round (58th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Harrington, 22, played in 10 NHL games with Pittsburgh and 48 games with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2014-15. In 124 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Kingston, Ontario native has registered 36 points (seven goals, 29 assists) and 75 penalty minutes. Harrington was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round (54th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

About The Author

Rob is an avid Leafs fan, and Leafs media member working for Stan Fischler Hockey Services. He is also the author of Blue And White Beat, and is a part-owner and a regular columnist at TMLfans.ca.
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